HR TECH FEST CONNECT 2023: EMPOWERING HR LEADERS TO SHAPE THE CONNECTED WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW

In today’s dynamic and uncertain global economy, organisations are confronted with unprecedented challenges. In response, many of these organisations may feel compelled to adopt a short-term, risk-averse approach primarily motivated by cost concerns. However, it is the forward-looking organisations that truly understand the secret to success—cultivating an engaged, motivated, and growth-oriented workforce.

In the face of adversity, these visionary organisations recognise the importance of empowering their employees to not only weather the storm but to thrive amidst uncertainty. They understand that a workforce that is deeply connected to the organisation’s mission and values will be better equipped to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.

To address these crucial HR challenges and identify growth opportunities, HRM Asia is presenting HR Tech Fest Connect 2023 Taking place on September 27, the one-day virtual conference, supported by premium sponsor Ceridian, serves as a timely platform for Asia’s HR community to come together and drive organisational transformation. With the theme The Connected Workplace: Empowering HR Leaders to Build an Engaged and Resilient Workforce, the event offers valuable insights into workplace trends that can help HR leaders steer their organisations towards growth and stability.

The virtual conference will feature a lineup of inspirational HR visionaries and thought leaders who will share their expertise on how to shape the future of HR practices and organisational development. One such influential speaker is Arthur Carmazzi, Founder of the Directive Communication Psychology. Ranked as the world’s #1 thought leader in organisational culture by Global Gurus, Carmazzi’s keynote address, titled AIs and the Metaverse at Work: Navigating the Future of Speaking, Coach- ing, and Training, will shed light on how AI and the metaverse will reshape coaching and training in the workplace, opening up new possibilities for employee development and growth.

Rob Squires, VP and Regional Head for Asia and Japan, Ceridian, will present The Power of Mobilising the Boundless Workforce, where he will share insights from Ceridian’s 2023 Executive Survey, shedding light on the strategies and technologies that successful organisations are utilising to optimise their boundless workforce.

Stacey Harris, Chief Research Officer and Managing Partner of Sapient Insights Group, will present research findings on how organisations in Asia-Pacific are successfully leveraging HR technologies to create a highly connected and collaborative workforce in her session, How to Build a Technology Stack for a Connected Workplace: Insights from the Annual HR Systems Survey. By understanding and embracing practical applications of HR tech, HR leaders can lead their teams more effectively and drive greater productivity.

Employee wellbeing has emerged as a top priority on the corporate agenda, with leaders recognising its role in driving stronger engagement, retention, and productivity among their teams. To uncover the factors that truly motivate and empower employees, Alisha Fernando, Head of Diversity and Inclusion Asia-Pacific, Bloomberg; and Robert Gee, Asia-Pacific Head of Sell-Side Trading Solutions Sales, Bloomberg, will present Integrated Employee Wellbeing for a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace, where they will share the initiatives Bloomberg has spearheaded to ensure employee wellbeing is a consideration that is integrated into all facets of the employee lifecycle.

Attendees to HR Tech Fest Connect 2023 will also have the opportunity to gain insights from Go Ashokh Menon, an Agile Coach and Facilitator from One Synergy Global. During his session, titled Driving Future Growth: How Organisations Can Identify Trends and Opportunities, he will delve into critical topics that can help organisations in selecting growth opportunities. One of the key focuses will be on understanding and analysing shifting trends that will shape the near future, as well as strategies for organising and engaging a resilient workforce to achieve high-impact performance.

In an era of transformative change, both people and work have evolved, necessitating a shift in human capital management (HCM). The modern workforce demands flexibility, personalisation, and purpose, and it is crucial for HCM systems to adapt and deliver accordingly. In the next session titled Three Ways Dayforce Trans- forms the Way You Work, Joshua Ooi, Senior Manager, Solutions Advisory, Ceridian, will demonstrate the power of Dayforce, the global people platform by Ceridian. From unlocking workforce intelligence to empowering individuals and ensuring compliance management, Dayforce is designed to meet the diverse needs of today’s dynamic workforce.

In another session titled Employee Burnout Is Real: Building Resilience for a Healthier Workforce, Manish Arneja, Managing Partner of Resilience Institute SEA, will provide insights into how organisations’ leaders can support employees in beating burnout and cultivating essential practices to enhance performance. During this session, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of burnout and its multifaceted impact on employees’ mental and emotional wellbeing as Arneja will share strategies that have proven effective in building resilience and fostering a healthier and more productive workforce.

To allow organisations to better understand Gen Z in the workplace, a panel discussion moderated by Dr Sandhya Karpe, Human Capital Center Leader, Asia and Programme Director of Asia Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, The Conference Board, will take a deep dive into what organisations can do to attract and retain a new generation of employees, while managing a multi-ge- nerational workforce and creating an inclusive workplace that provides fair opportunities for all employees.

Dr Sandhya will be joined in this engaging panel discussion titled, Gen Z Rising in Asia: A Dynamic Force for Organisational Change, by Ruth Gellert-Neale, Global HR Executive Director, JLL; David Lim, SVP Human Resources, PVH Corp; and Wong Yang Sheng, Head of HR for Singapore, Standard Chartered Bank Marriott International will present a session specially designed for HR leaders who are passionate about cultivating a vibrant and engaged workforce. Titled Building a Thriving Culture: Why Employee Engagement is All About People, this session by Andrew Newmark, CHRO of Marriott International, offers attendees insights into Marriott International’s successful approach to overcoming challenges posed by the pandemic and fostering a thriving culture within the organisation.

Also joining HR Tech Connect is Nathalie Huynh, Country HR Director, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei, Schneider Electric, who will be discussing why greenskilling can help create jobs of the future and how organisations can make sustainability a part of their corporate DNA.

In his closing keynote address, Kris Wadia, CEO of Humanized Leadership, will present a session on Employee Engagement in a

Hybrid World – Strategies for Success, where he will present a comprehensive checklist designed to help organisations avoid common operational mistakes made in employee engagement programmes. The session will then delve into embedding successful employee engagement strategies throughout the entire employee lifecycle, from recruitment to retirement, and attendees will learn how to foster a culture of engagement that permeates every aspect of an employee’s journey within the organisation.

HR Tech Fest Connect 2023 promises to be a transformative event that empowers HR leaders with the tools they need to build an engaged, resilient, and future-ready workforce. By harnessing the knowledge and expertise of esteemed speakers and thought leaders, attendees will be well-prepared to navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape and drive growth and stability through their people.

Register here to secure your place at this inspiring conference and be part of shaping the connected workforce of tomorrow.